Security has been tightened at Vishnupad temple in Gaya town in Bihar, following a bomb threat, sources said on Saturday.

An official of the Gaya district administration said that a terrorist outfit had sent a SMS to a senior district official, threatening a bomb blast at the temple. "After receiving the message threatening the blast, the district administration is taking no chances" he said.

This is the first time that the temple has received a bomb threat. The police have started probing the origin of the SMSThe Vishnupad temple at Gaya, about 120 kms from Patna, is considered sacred by millions of Hindus.

An estimated 2.5 lakh people from India and neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal visit the temple to perform the pinddaan ceremony, a ritual for the salvation of their ancestors' souls, during the ongoing Pitripaksh Mela.